Solomon Islands receives China-aided police vehicles

On Nov 4, a consignment of police vehicles arrived in the Solomon Islands as part of the Chinese government's aid to the police force of the Pacific island state.

In his speech at the delivery ceremony, Chinese Ambassador to the Solomon Islands Li Ming said the Chinese side immediately extended its help, sending a team of police advisors  from China's Ministry of Public Security to carry out training programs and providing the Solomon Islands' police force with anti-riot equipment and other police supplies, after social unrest broke out in November 2021 in Honiara, the capital of the country.

This consignment of police vehicles provided by the Chinese government to the Solomon Islands is another important milestone in the police cooperation between the two countries and will further enhance the police force's ability to enforce law, patrol, prevent violence and maintain social security, Li noted.

Li said facts have proved that the police cooperation between China and the Solomon Islands is in line with the common interests of the two countries and their peoples, and is also conducive to promoting peace and security in the South Pacific region.

China adheres to the spirit of "professionalism, efficiency, friendship" and "openness, transparency and goodwill" in conducting police cooperation with the Solomon Islands, fully respects the sovereignty of the country, and has no intention of competing with any country, Li said, adding that China firmly opposes any attempt to interfere in its relations with the Solomon Islands and preach geopolitics.

As a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and a responsible major country, China has proposed the Global Development Initiative and Global Security Initiative, which have won high praise and broad support from the international community, the ambassador said.

He added that the Chinese side looks forward to working with the Solomon Islands to promote bilateral cooperation in policing and other fields, in order to benefit the two peoples and to build a community with a shared future for mankind.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said the China-assisted police vehicles would effectively improve the police force's ability to enforce law and maintain public order, and provide strong support in the security for the 2023 Pacific Games to be held by his country.

When mentioning the riots in Honiara in last November, which severely damaged local economic and social development and threatened people's lives, he said he hopes that the police force of the Solomon Islands can better fulfill their mission, maintain public order and protect the people's lives and their property with the help of China.

High-profile government officials of the Solomon Islands, including Deputy Prime Minister Manasseh Maelanga, Anthony Veke, minister of police, national security and correctional services of the Solomon Islands, as well as commanding officers of police forces deployed by Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea in the Solomon Islands attended the delivery ceremony.